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Biography

Timothy C. Caboni became WKU’s 10th president on July 1, 2017. President Caboni earned
his master’s degree in corporate and organizational communication from WKU in 1994,
and he holds a doctorate in higher education and policy from Vanderbilt University.
He returned to the Hill after serving six years as vice chancellor of Public Affairs
at the University of Kansas. During his inaugural year as president, he is leading
a comprehensive strategic planning process to serve as a roadmap for WKU’s next decade
of growth. President Caboni is married to Kacy Schmidt Caboni, who serves as the director
of principal gifts and special initiatives in the Office of Development and Alumni
Relations at WKU.

Timothy C. Caboni, a 1994 Western Kentucky University graduate, returned to the Hill on
July 1, 2017, as WKU’s 10th president.

During his inaugural year as president, Caboni is leading a comprehensive strategic
planning process to serve as a roadmap for WKU’s next decade of growth. Of particular
importance will be renewing WKU’s mission of advancing the City of Bowling Green,
the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the world by inspiring innovation, elevating communities
and transforming lives.

President Caboni, who holds a PhD in higher education leadership and policy from Vanderbilt
University, served as the vice chancellor for Public Affairs at the University of
Kansas for six years. Prior to that he was associate dean of the Peabody College
of Education & Human Development at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

At KU, Caboni led public affairs for KU’s four campuses and the KU Medical Center.
He served as the principal spokesman and coordinated the communication activities
of the University with those of the KU Alumni Association, KU Endowment and Kansas
Athletics, Inc. Caboni oversaw the communications, marketing and advocacy efforts
of the University and coordinated KU’s legislative agenda at all government levels,
championing issues that include research funding, higher education policy and health
care. He also was responsible for the operations of Kansas Public Radio and was associate
professor of educational leadership and policy in the School of Education.

Caboni was an active member of the Lawrence, Kansas, community, serving on the board
of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Joint Economic Development Commission
of Lawrence and Douglas County as well as the boards of the Lawrence Art Center and
the Lied Center for the Performing Arts.

As associate dean at Vanderbilt, Caboni oversaw the Peabody College’s 21 professional
graduate degree programs and graduate and professional financial aid for the college,
and he led outreach, partnership and program development efforts for the college as
well as communications and admissions. His leadership contributed to the school’s
rising to No. 1 in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate schools of education
for three consecutive years.

President Caboni is a native of New Orleans, La., and received a bachelor’s degree
in speech communication and rhetoric from Louisiana State University. He earned a
master’s degree in corporate and organizational communication from WKU. His higher
education professional experience includes alumni relations, fundraising, prospect
research, teaching, academic administration, communications, marketing and government
relations. He has published nearly 30 articles and one book. His current research
is focused on use of data-based decision-making in higher education fundraising.

President Caboni is married toKacy Schmidt Caboni, who was director of development and team leader for the School of Business with
the Kansas University Endowment. She was instrumental in the construction of Capitol
Federal Hall, the new home of the KU business school, funded entirely through private
philanthropy. In addition to serving as WKU’s First Lady, Kacy Caboni is director
of principal gifts and special initiatives in the Office of Development and Alumni
Relations at WKU.